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D03212473M 


T^^  /fe.  ^  s 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT, 


To  THE  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 

Of  the  Confederate  States  : 

I  herewith  transmit  a  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy; 
of  this  date,  covering  the  official  report  of  the  naval  en- 
gagement between  the  James  River  Squadron  and  the  ene- 
my's fleet,  in  Hampton  Roads,  on  the  8th  instant : 

The  officers  and  men  of  our  Navy,  engaged   in  this  bril- 
liant affair,  deserve  well   of   their  country,   and  are  com^ 
mended  to  the  consideration  of  the  Congress.  ^^ 

The  dispai'ity  of  the  forces  engaged  did  not  justify  the 
anticipation  of  so  great  a  victory ;  and  it  is  doubly  gratify- 
ing that  it  has  been  won  upon  an  element  where  we  were 
supposed  to  be  least  able  to  compete  with  our  enemy. 

Special  attention  is  called  to  the  perfidious  conduct  of  the 
enemy  in  hoisting  on  the  frigate  Congress  a  white  flag,  and 
renewing  fire,  from  that  vessel,  under  the  impunity  thus 
obtained.  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

March  11,  1862. 


LETTER  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAYT. 


Confederate    States  of  America, 

navy  department, 
Richmond,  March  Wth,  1862. 
To  THE  President  : 

Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you  the  official  report 
of  the  naval  engagement  between  the  James  river  squadron, 
under  the  command  of  Flag  Officer  Franklin  Buchanan,  and 
the  enemy's  fleet,  in  Hampton  Roads,  on  the  8th  instant. 

Flag  Officer  Buchanan,  in  the  immediate  command  of  the 
steam  sloop  Yirginia,.  was  disabled  near  the  close  of  the  en- 
gagement by  a  painful  though  not  dangerous  wound,  and  the 
report  is  made  by  the  Executive  Officer,  upon  whom   th^ 
command  devolved,  Lieut.  Jones.  . 

The  steam  sloop  Virginia  of  ten  guns,  the  Patrick  Henry, 
Commander  Tucker,  of  six  guns,  the  Jamestown,  Lieut. 
Commanding  Barney,  of  two  guns,  the  Raleigh,  Lieut.  Com- 
manding Alexander,  the  Beaufort,  Lieut.  Commanding  Par- 
ker, and  the  Teazer,  Lieut,  Commanding  Webb,  each  of  one 
gun,  composed  our  squadron.  With  this  force  of  twenty- 
one  guns,  Flag  Officer  Buchanan  engaged  the  enemy's  fleet, 
consisting  of  the  frigate  Cumberland  of  twenty-four  guns, 
the  Congress  of  fifty  guns,  the  St.  Lawrence  of  fifty  guns, 
and  the  steam  frigates  Minnesota  and  Roanoke  each  of  forty 
guns,  the  enemy's  batteries  at  Newports  News,  and  several 
small  steamers  armed  with  heavy  rifled  guns. 

The  engagement  commenced  at  3:30  P.  M.,  and  at  6 
o'clock  P.  M.,  he  had  sunk  the  Cumberland,  captured  and 
burnt  the  Congress,  disabled  and  driven  the  Minnesota 
ashore,  and  defeated  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Roanoke,  which 


Bought  shelter  under  the  guns  of  Fortress  Monroe.  Two 
of  the  enemy's  small  steamers  were  blown  up,  and  two 
transport  schooners  were  captured. 

The  Cumberland  went  down  with  all  on  board,  her  tops 
only  remaining  above  water  ;  but  many  of  her  people  were 
saved  by  boats  from  the  shore. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  has  not  been  ascertained.  Our 
loss  is  very  small,  but  has  not  been  officially  communi- 
cated. 

The  flag  of  the  Congress  and  the  sword  of  the  officer 
commanding  at  the  time  of  her  surrender,  are  at  this  De- 
partment, together  with  the  flag  and  sword  of  the  gunboat 
Fanny,  captured  by  Flag  Officer  Lynch,  in  October  last ; 
and  I  submit  for  your  consideration  the  propriety  of  provi- 
ding for  the  safe  keeping  of  these  and  similar  trophies. 

To  the  dashing  courage,  the  patriotism  and  eminent  abili- 
ty of  Flag  Officer  Buchanan  and  the  officers  and  men  of  his 
squadron,  our  country  is  indebted  for  this  brilliant  achieve- 
ment, Avhich  will  hold  a  conspicuous  place  among  the  heroic 
^outests  of  naval  history. 

.  With  much  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  B.  MALLORY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  THE  NAVAL  ENGAGE- 
MEXT  IN  HAMPTON  ROADS,  March  8th,  1862. 


C.  S.  Steam  Batterv,  "  Virginia,"  ) 
Off  SewelVs  Point,  March  8th,  1862.      ] 

Flag  Officer  : 

In  consequence  of  the  wound  of  Flag-Officer  Buchanan, 
it  becomes  my  duty  to  report  that  the  Virginia  left  the  yard 
this  morning,  at  11  A.  M.,  steamed  down  the  river  past  our 
batteries  and  over  to  Newport  News,  where  we  engaged  the 
frigates  Cumberland  and  Congress,  and  the  batteries  ashore, 
and  also  two  large  steam  frigates,  supposed  to  be  the  Minne- 
sota and  Roanoke,  and  a  sailing  frigate,  and  several  small 
steamers,  armed  with  heavy  rifled  guns.  We  sunk  the  Cum- 
berland, and  drove  the  Congress  ashore,  when  she  hauled 
down  her  colors  and  hoisted  the  white  flag ;  but  she  fired 
upon  us  with  the  white  flag  flying,  wounding  Lieut.  Minor 
and  some  of  our  men.  Wo  again  opened  fire  upon  her,  and 
she  is  now  in  flames.  The  shoal  water  prevented  our  reach- 
ing the  other  frigates ;  this,  with  approaching  night,  we 
think,  saved  them  from  destruction.  Our  loss  is  two  killed 
and  eight  wounded.  Two  of  our  guns  have  the  muzzles 
shot  off",  the  prow  was  twisted,  and  the  armor  somewhat 
damaged ;  the  anchor  and  all  flag  staff's  shot  away,  and 
smoke-stack  and  steam-pipe  was  riddled.  The  bearing  of 
officers  and  men  was  all  that  could  be  wished,  and  in  fact  it 
could  not  have  been  otherwise,  after  the  noble  and  daring 
conduct  of  the  Flag-Officer,  whose  wound  is  deeply  regret- 
ted by  all  on  board,  Avho  would  gladly  have  sacrificed  them- 
selves in  order  to  save  him.  We  were  accompanied  from 
the  Yard  by  the  Beaufort,  Lieut,  Parker,  and  Raleigh,  Lieut. 
Alexander ;  and,  as  soon  as  it  was  discovered  up  the  James 


River  that  the  action  had  commenced,  we  were  joined  by 
the  Patrick  IIeni*y,  Commander  Tucker ;  the  Jamestown, 
Lieut.  Barney,  and  the  Teazer,  Lieut.  Webb,  all  of  which 
were  actively  engaged,  and  rendered  very  efficient  service. 
Enclosed  I  send  the  Surgeon's  report  of  casualties. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
CATESBY  AP  R.  JONES, 

Ex,  and  Ordnance  Officer. 
Flag-Officer  F.  Forrest, 


SURGEON'S  REPORT. 


C.  S.  S.  *'  Virginia,  ) 
Near  SeweWs  Point,  March  8,  1862.      $ 

Sir — I  have  to  report  the  folloAving  casualties  resulting 
from  the  action  of  to-day.  Flag  Officer  F.  Buchanan, 
wounded  in  the  left  thigh,  a  Minnie  ball  having  passed  en- 
tirely through  the  fleshy  portion,  grazing  femeral  artery, 
and  inflicting  a  serious  wound. 

Lieut.  R.  Minor,  Avounded  in  the  left  side,  (not  danger- 
ously.) Midshipman  Marmaduke,  slight  wound  of  arm. 
Two  men  killed,  (names  not  known,)  and  five  men  wounded, 
one  losing  an  eye. 

Very  respectfully, 

D.  B.  PHILLIPS, 
Surgeon  of  the  Flng  Ship. 
Lieut.  Catesby  Ap  Roger  Jones, 

Confederate    States    Navy. 

Killed — Charles  Dunbar, Waldeck. 

Wounded — Wm.  Burke,  seaman ;  John  Capps,  A.  J.  Dal- 
ton,  company  E,  41st  regiment ;  Emerson  Joas,  John  Leon- 
ard. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


